After talking a big game prior to the match and specifically focusing on the lack of respect that flyweights get in UFC, Ian McCall was forced to withdraw from his match against John Lineker only hours before it was to go down on Saturday.
Despite making weight for the fight on Friday, McCall said that he was experience a severe deterioration in health just after he arrived in Brazil.
“Bacterial infection in my blood. My body just failed me after the weigh-ins,” McCall texted MMA Fighting.
“UFC blood tested me a few weeks ago and it showed I had a slight infection. I just figured I’d work through it,” McCall said. “I’m in such great shape and am so healthy I didn’t think it would affect me like this. Since getting to Brazil, I’ve had a fever and only slept one to hours a night.”
McCall went to the hospital and flew home yesterday. He’s been given a new round of antibiotics and told to get rest. He also took time to apologize to his opponent.
“I’m very sorry about how all this happened, especially to John [Lineker],” McCall said. “We both needed this fight for so many reasons. We still do. Hopefully the UFC grants me another opportunity.”
